The best method of profiling a rapist is to follow the standards developed by the Swiss Criminal Profiling Scientific Research Site specifically follow steps 1 through 4 (Criminal Profiling Research, Methods CPRM, 2008). This essay addresses the first four Swiss-developed stages and suggests that the methods used are imperative to the development of a viable criminal rapist profile. These methods are using the given evidence to map out the events and evidence of the crime(s) development of questions and noted observations of the crime(s) offender and victim(s)s behavior and, the creation of a profile for concerned investigators. What follows looks at these steps in chronological order, providing a description of each stage, evidence and informational services needed along the way, as well as a rational for sources required.

Step One is the evidence of the crime mapping stage including any physical evidence, photographs of the crime scene, autopsy reports and pictures, witness testimony, , police reports, as well as a creation of victimology and graphic profiling (CPRM, 2008). Victimology is a close look at who the victim was background information on the victim is important here. Graphic profiling is an investigative aid that predicts the offenders most likely location, which includes their possible home and work locations, social venues or even travel routes (Criminal Profiling Research, Types CPRT, 2008). In this stage, the evidence is either tangible and available, or first-hand knowledge, i.e., witnessing of the evidence. As mentioned, the mapping of the evidence of the crime requires this tangible and first-hand evidence to be laid out, whether on a wall board or laid out on a table, so the profiler(s) can see the evidence and allow connections (similarities) or disconnections (differences) to be noted. The rationalization to using this type of evidence (tangible) and information (first-hand reports) is because this evidence is absolute. In other words, this evidence is there for the senses to experience, allowing the profiler(s) to get a tangible feeling for the crime(s).

Step Two takes all of the evidence from Step One and now questions, from observations of Step One, are developed. These questions address what is missing from the evidence what does not make sense, so why becomes the concern also, hows are asked about fitting certain pieces of evidence together, i.e., how did the rapist know what time the victim walked down the trail Other questions posed or concerns raised in this stage are the type of crime. Here rapist typology is applied. Is the rapist power reassured (less violent), power assertive (possessing an extreme sense of superiority and entitlement) anger retaliatory (a rapist who wants to cause pain) or an anger excited (sadistic) rapist (a killer) (Forensic Talk A Forensic Nurses Weblog, 2006). Hypotheses are also used to created possible motives for the crime(s) and to look at the sequences of the rapists actions, as well as events of the crime. Think of Step Two as the brainstorming or brain theory of development stage. This stage deals with the intangible, using tangible evidence from Step One, and other information services such as public data sources, profiler and investigator practical experience(s), clinical studies, and statistical models (Hammond, n.d.). The rationalization behind these sources is to use recognized experience(s) and collected knowledge to authenticate the evidence and ideas developed out of Step One.

Step Three delves further into the brain or psyche of the offender and his victim(s) (Forensic Talk, 2006). Building on what is known of the physical evidence and using the extensive knowledge base from Step Two, this stage asks further more complicated and complex questions about the crime. Is the offender disorganized asocial (male offender completely disorganized with everything) or organized nonsocial (a loner, compulsive, extremely organized with everything) (CPRM, 2008). What has been revealed about the rapist in the way he attacks, harms, or even kills his victim(s) Is there staging of the body, and if so, what is the killer saying with this behavior Is the victim a part of a fantasy a retribution for past harms done to the rapist a statement toward society or the police or does it have other patterns that make it unique to other rape-based crimes This stage also takes place in the brain while using the same evidence and information services from Stage Two. The difference here is that different view points are addressed in looking at the evidence, as well as further analysis of the evidence, tangible and intangible, are addressed. The rationalization of this stage is to step into the head of the offender and his victim(s). By knowing the victim(s) the profiler can begin to relate to what attracted the offender to them, and by knowing the offender the profiler can begin to understand who they are and what they might do next.

The final stage is the development of a criminal profile which is released to the investigators of the crime in hopes of helping them to apprehend the rapist. Here sex, age (hardest to determine because emotional or experiential age does not always match chronological years), race, marital status, living arrangements and employment history psychological characteristics, beliefs and values, as well as past criminal records, and a prediction of potential reactions upon arrest are all created (CRPM, 2008). This stage also goes through a thorough feedback loop, whereby profilers check their predictions, making sure that their profile is a strong one (CRPM, 2008). Through the information used and developed from Step One through Three, this stage is a fine tuning of the profile that is to be prepared as a written document for the investigators of the concerned rapist. The rational behind this stage is to create a picture of the rapist for the investigators. It is also the opportunity to proofread and edit the final draft of who the rapist is. This stage completes the best organizational structure that is to be used when building a criminal profile of a rapist.